Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong>This study examined the role of self help groups in addressing some of the problems faced by persons with disabilities such as social exclusion, discrimination, lack of awareness about their rights and privileges, and absence of livelihood programmes.<...

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Main Author: K P Kumaran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Gondar 2011-10-01
Series:Disability, CBR and Inclusive Development
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dcidj.org/article/view/78
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author K P Kumaran
author_facet K P Kumaran
author_sort K P Kumaran
collection DOAJ
description <p><strong>Purpose:</strong>This study examined the role of self help groups in addressing some of the problems faced by persons with disabilities such as social exclusion, discrimination, lack of awareness about their rights and privileges, and absence of livelihood programmes.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> One hundred persons with disabilities were randomly drawn for the study from 50 self help groups in 2 districts that were covered under a popular poverty alleviation programme implemented by the state of Andhra Pradesh  in India.  An interview schedule was used to collect information.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Before joining the group, some of the persons with disabilities were mostly confined to their houses, and viewed as less productive and incapable of leading a ‘normal’ life. After joining the groups, they came out of their seclusion and started to work together for their collective welfare and development. They gained knowledge about their rights and privileges and started income generation activities with the help of loans made available to them.  They gained better acceptance within their families, but attitudes of their communities was slower to change. A feeling that “disability is not inability” seemed to have been internalized among the members of the groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Self-help groups can be very effective in helping persons with disabilities to come out of their isolation and in promoting their participation and inclusion in societal mainstream.</p><p><strong>Key Words</strong>: Self-help group, persons with disabilities</p>doi 10.5463/DCID.v22i2.78<br />
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spelling doaj-art-054790fe9a5e4f86af7efdfb47a134192025-08-20T02:02:59ZengUniversity of GondarDisability, CBR and Inclusive Development2211-52422011-10-0122210511310.5463/dcid.v22i2.78Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with DisabilitiesK P Kumaran<p><strong>Purpose:</strong>This study examined the role of self help groups in addressing some of the problems faced by persons with disabilities such as social exclusion, discrimination, lack of awareness about their rights and privileges, and absence of livelihood programmes.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> One hundred persons with disabilities were randomly drawn for the study from 50 self help groups in 2 districts that were covered under a popular poverty alleviation programme implemented by the state of Andhra Pradesh  in India.  An interview schedule was used to collect information.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Before joining the group, some of the persons with disabilities were mostly confined to their houses, and viewed as less productive and incapable of leading a ‘normal’ life. After joining the groups, they came out of their seclusion and started to work together for their collective welfare and development. They gained knowledge about their rights and privileges and started income generation activities with the help of loans made available to them.  They gained better acceptance within their families, but attitudes of their communities was slower to change. A feeling that “disability is not inability” seemed to have been internalized among the members of the groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Self-help groups can be very effective in helping persons with disabilities to come out of their isolation and in promoting their participation and inclusion in societal mainstream.</p><p><strong>Key Words</strong>: Self-help group, persons with disabilities</p>doi 10.5463/DCID.v22i2.78<br />http://dcidj.org/article/view/78Self help groups, Social DiscriminationGroup MobilizationRights and PrivilegesLivelihood ProgrammesGroup SavingsOccupational mobility
spellingShingle K P Kumaran
Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Disability, CBR and Inclusive Development
Self help groups, Social Discrimination
Group Mobilization
Rights and Privileges
Livelihood Programmes
Group Savings
Occupational mobility
title Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
title_full Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
title_fullStr Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
title_full_unstemmed Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
title_short Role of Self-help Groups in Promoting Inclusion and Rights of Persons with Disabilities
title_sort role of self help groups in promoting inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities
topic Self help groups, Social Discrimination
Group Mobilization
Rights and Privileges
Livelihood Programmes
Group Savings
Occupational mobility
url http://dcidj.org/article/view/78
work_keys_str_mv AT kpkumaran roleofselfhelpgroupsinpromotinginclusionandrightsofpersonswithdisabilities